Lubricating system for internalcombustion engines and filter structure for use therein



Jan. 6, 1953 c. P. MOLYNEUX 2,624,422

LUBRICATING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES AND FILTER STRUCTURE FCR USE THEREIN Original Filed Oct. 4, 1947 FIG. I

INVENTOR.

CECIL P. MOLYNEUX ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 6, l953 PATENT OFFICE is I LUBltlflAflN'GtsYsTEM FOR INTERNAL- ooMBuscrroN =EN;GINES AND FILTER STRUCTURE FOR USE THEREIN.

Cecil Patrick Molyneux, Southampton,' N."Y., as- "'si'gnor to- Filtors, Incorporated, "Long Island i City, N Y.', a corporation of. New .York

Continuation of application Serial .No. 777,965, October 4, 19.47; 'This application October .24, 952,- SerialNo."316,722

This invention relates *to improvements in "oil filtering systems for internal "combustion -engines, and particularly engines 'of'the automotive type in "which "-anpilfilter'is provided for purifying the oil in the crankcase of the engine;

This application is a-continuation*of application' serial No. 7'77,'965','fi1ed=O'ctober 4, 1947,'and now abandoned, forLubricating *System for Internal-Combustion Engines.

Most internal combustion enginesa're provided f wlth alubri-cating system which-'includesa-pump operatively connected to the engine mechanism 'and driven thereby. -In-ge'neral, this pump is used to draw oil from the engine crank-caseor oil container and distribute it to the parts-"of theengine to-be' lubricated. A filter is also used in; many systems "-andoil-to be purifled is passed theretofrom the lubricating oil pump.

One of the di'ificulties o'fpreviously kriown systerns is the failureto provide means for passing a suflicient proportion of the=oi1 through thefil- -ter. Some difliculty resides'in the fact-that there is a "considerable resistance to the 'flow of oil through most filters and thereforeaconsider- 'abl'y lower amount of oil is filtered *thanis desired. r

In accordance with the features of the present invention ithasbeen'found that a relatively sim- 'ple arrangement will materially increase'the oil "'fiow -through the =filter at the pump pressure nor- -"mall-y used 'and consequently produce 'a greater type :referred to in which lubricating oil at the oil pump pressure is supplied to the 'filter,'-and .:excess oil delivered by the pump is utilized in -.a Venturi-ejector .zmeans at the outlet of the filter forsapplying suction thereto (and thereby increasxingf-Ithetamount of 'oil passed through 'the'filter. :Another. feature of .the invention-11's to provide anienginelubricating system in'cludingsan oil filter which will be simple .inconstruction and auto- .matic in operation. Whilein :some. internal com- :bustion engines 1 it .;may :be .possible for :an. opersatorito :make certainadjustments of valves and "other control means in filter systems 's o a's to secure improved filtration, his not generally possible 'or practicable to provide-an "automobile *eng-ine, for example, with various valve controls,

' 1121Glaims.

partly at 12.

-50 oil It in the crank case.

.2 since the" wrong valves :may :be turnediz-aznd they for the most p'art'would'znever zbe.utilizedlby the ordinary automobile owner :or operator. :The automatic arrangement 'of itheipresent invention is therefore adapted to pro aisimple dexpensive system ass'ociatedwith the automobile lubricant pump, and which will greatly improve the filtration of theoil.

The improved system of the "present-invention includesother :features which "will he :described in detailhereinafterzin :connectionwith the-accompanying drawing :forming a part of this applicati-on.

' 'In'the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a broken vertical sectional view,- somei'w'hat in diagrammatic "form, showing the .im-

proved filtering system in tconnection with :the crank case of an automobile internal :combusvi tion' engine:

0: Fig.1'2 "is :anenlarged approximately horizontal sectional views'howing thedirect :mounting :of a

i filter ona crank 'case of anrautomobile.

The apparatus shown in Fig.1 includes za-tcrank "case I'll for an internal oombustionengine shown The crankcase contains a body of lubricating oil I4 and is provided :with the 'usual drainage p'lug ilfi. The 'oil pump for the engine is mounted in the .crank case zandi shown at i 8 asbeing 'carriedon a bracket zZflzattached to theenginelblockeproper. The pump iszdriven from the engineby a-driveshait 22 in .a :conventional manner. The oil of the :body His-supplied to the pump through a "duct 2'4whioh connects with a conventional type of-oi1 strainer 2-6. The

duct 24 connects with the strainer at the right while the strainer is braced with respeotto the duct'by a member28 at its left end.

The oil-taken up by the-pump 18 'is delivered into a four-way connection :30 from which ."Oil

40 is .:conducted through 'a line 132 .at the pressure maintained in the system to :the parts of the engine to be lubricatedasuch for example as the crank shaft and piston. mechanism indicated diagrammatically .at 34. -A-portion.of theexcessoil from the pump l8 is supplie'd through vailine .36

to a filter 38 supportedin the crank case by a bracket 4%, filtered .oil being discharged through a pipe 42into the casing of an ejector T llmounted above the body of oil, and then to the body of Any type "of ejector or eductor may be employed for applying a suction through the pipe "12 to the filter 38. The oil for operating the ejector M is supplied by the pump l 8 through a line i6 having apressure rlief valve 48 therein. The line ifi'oxteniis axiallyinto the ejector 44 to provide a stream of oil, at about] pump pressure, at a restricted part of the ejector casing so as to pick up the oil from the filter 1 Where a conis running to pick up oil from the oil body I4 and supply it through the line 32 to lubricate the" engine. A part of the excess oil passes through the line 36 and through the filter, from which it is returned to the body of oil in the crank case. The valve 48 in the line 46 is set to maintain a predetermined maximum pressure in the lubri feating system of the engine, and the valve setting therefore determines the pressure of the oil delivered by the pump. The pump in the nor mal engine of course supplies considerably more oil than is necessary and more oil than can be;

passed through the filter at the maximum pres sure. The pressure relief or pressure control valve 48 therefore opens to permit oil to fiow through the line 46 and into the ejector 44. The action of the ejector applies suction to the outlet of the filter through the line 42 thereby increasing the pressure drop through the filter and the capacity of the filter, so that more oil is purified than otherwise would be possible.

54, which in the present construction comprises a. part of the ejector.

The filter unit attached to the wall 12a advantageously comprises a cast filter casing 56 integral with a supporting arm section 58 having a flange 59 fitting the side wall l2a. and containing tubular passageways matching two of those in the wall IZa. I have found it advantageous to cast the filter unit as an integral aluminum casting ready to receive the filter element which is mounted around the perforated or slotted outlet tube 60, of conventional construction. A gasket as shown may be provided between the fiat face of the flange 59 and the wall Na, and the filter unit or more stud bolts 62.

may be secured to the wall by means of three The unit includes a pas- H sageway 36b for conducting oil under pressure from the line 36a into the filter casing 56, the

. passage 36b terminating with a projecting short tube 64 which fits into the passageway 50. The

' filter unit also includes an outlet passageway 42a The ejector 44 also has the efiect of balancing I the operation since an increase in flow through the filter 38 will naturally tend to decrease the flow through the line 46.

The valve 48 is preferably a spring-loaded valvei which will operate automatically and open to give gradually increasing flow as the pressure rises in the neighborhood of the set maximum pressure. The pump I8 is advantageously of a suificient capacity to supply the engine lubricating system and the filter, and to also provide for a substantially continuous flow through the relief valve 48 to the ejector 44, so as to materially increase the flow through the filter 38. The valve 48 may be set at 15 p. s. i. or higher, depending upon the system, and the pressure in the linej46 at the ejector will be only slightly lower. When the system is arranged to operate in this manner a relatively small filter, which may be provided with the usual oil filtering materials, will maintain the oil in the crank case in a high state of purification and freedom from sludge and carbon. j, In the modified form of construction shown in Fig. 2, a filter unit is mounted directly onthe outside of the engine block so that it mayibe quickly attached or replaced. The filter unit'is advantageously mounted on the side of the'engin block in a convenient position so that certain passageways in the filter unit match up with passageways provided in the wall of thel-enine block. As shown, the engine block fw'all" Hat is provided with three passageways approximately in horizontal line. The apparatus includes a pumping arrangement similar to that shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2 the pump outlet line 36a is connected by threading for example, into a passageway 56 in the wall l2a, while the pipe 460: leading from the relief valve in the system is similarly connected into a passageway 52. The wall [2a also includes a third relatively larger passageway wall Ho.

The flange 59 of the filter unit includes a relatively large laterally extending passageway 68 which is open in the face of the flange which is mounted against the wall I2a. This passageway 68 provides a communication between the pasageway 52 in the wall I20, and the passageway 54, and extends entirely around, with its side wall spaced from the projecting tube 66 which is mounted substantially axially in the passageway 54. I

The operation of the modified form of apparatus shown in Fig. 2 is essentially the same as that described above in connection with Fig. l, the oil at pump pressure being delivered through the pipe 360, and the passageway 36b to the filter casing 56, while the oil passed from the filter enters the tubular outlet 60 and flows through passageway 42a and its tubular extension 66, through the wall I21]. and pours into the crank case of the engine. The oil released through the pressure relief valve such as 48, flows through the line 46a, passageways 52 and 68, around the outlet tube 66 and through passageway 54 to apply a suction to the passageway 42a. The length and diameter of theprojecting tube 66 is controlled with respect to the passageway 54 so as to provide an efiective ejector when the unit is installed on an engine in the manner shown.

The improved apparatus of the present invention is particularly adapted for .use in connection with engines having relatively' low pressure oil systems of, for example, 15 pounds per square inch. At such pressures it has been extremely difficult to secure proper filtering of the 011 because of the low throughput obtained. The apparatus of the present invention includes an ejector which supplies suction to the filter outlet and thereby greatly increases the oil throughput for the filter. The form of invention shown in Fig. 2 is particularly adapted for such engines, and is provided for direct mounting of the filter unit on the engine block or crank case.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that certain changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the various parts, for example the pressure control valve and ejector may be combined or adjacent each other. Other changes may be made and at the same timeachieve the objects and advantages of the 5 presjent invention. Thesystem :as -slrown'and-tlescribed-comprisesa ;relatively simple' arrangement which is iree of control valvesiin-the lines'32,':-36, .3611, 12 and 42a, with only a set pressure-relief valvetin theilineWeen-46a. "The avera'geautomobile owner -or operator therefore has nothing fto adjust or :control in securing eflective purificatlon of the lubricating oilfor his 2 engine.

W hat-I :claim as :new is:

:1. In 'alubricating system foriinternal combustion engines, including a crank case for retaining :a' bo'dy of lubricatingoil, a pump for drawingoil 'from the bodyof oiliin the crank case and ior 'supplying oil I to the parts of the engine zto -be ,ilubricated, and a filter "for purifying the "lubricating 1 of the pump havingapressure relief valve'there'in for maintaining 'a predeterminedpressureon the "oil from the pump, said oil-line beingconnected '='into-the-ejector beyond'the valveand arrangedto supply 011 under pressure to operate-the ejector thereby increasing the flow of oil through the filter over that "which would normally begpossible.

2. In -a system "for filtering lubricatingo'il "for "internal combustion engines, including a container "for retaining the body of lubricating oil,-a pump for drawing "oil *from'the body of oil in the container "and for supplying *oil to the parts or the-*engine to "be lubricated, and-a *filter 'forpuritying the "lubricating oil in "the system, the improvement 'which comprises means "for passing a -portion of the oil "from the pump through the parts of the engineto belu-bricated, means for passing another portion of the oil from the pump to the filter, anoutlet conduit for the filter for conducting oil from the filter to the container, an ejector associated with said conduit for applying a suction to the outlet of the filter, means for controlling the pressure on the oil delivered by the pump, and an oil line leading from the outlet of the pump and connected into said ejector to supply oil under pressure to operate the ejector, thereby increasing the flow of oil through the filter over that which would normally be possible.

3. In a lubricating system for an internal combustion engine including a crank case for retaining abody of oil, a pump in said crank case arranged to draw oil from said crank case and to obstructed oil line connectedintozthepumpzoutlet and extending to i the" inlet of? the. filter, ranrunob- :structed oil line leading fromitheffilter to athei'container and having zancejeictor :assudiatedtherewith; said GjBCtOr'JbGiIIg arranged-when operated to :applya 'suctionito zthezfilter ithrough the :oil lineleading 'therefrom, an oilfline connectedi into the outlet :of :the pump and extending 1130 the ejector and arranged tosupply.zoilwunderrpressure -from ft'he pump'ato :the :-ejector for iapplyingssuction 1120".17116 filter, and 111631151101 .:maintaining :a substantia1 :predetermined maximum 1)125511138111'1 the linesleading tromtthe pump routlet.

i5. .A lubricating oil :filter.zsystems ascidefined claim 4inxwhichathesfilteri mountedzdirectlyion the engine wall and in which "the :ejector :nom- :prises -.a 'passagewayain the :engine wall surround ing .the end :of :the nutlet line ffrom'lthe'sfi-lter.

6. In a .ilubricating --oi1 system :for .:-an :internal combustion engine including ascontaineriior re:- 'taining a bodyeof oil, a pumpitodraw oil said container vand to deliver oil under ipressure to theparts oi'the engine to be lubricated,iaifilter unit mounte'd 'on the :outside of the engine wall for filterin .1 the oil in the 1 system, :the improve- :ment which comprises an unobstructed oil ,iline connected into the :pump outletaand rextendingato the engine wall :adjacent'the -filter'.unit,,.:a::pas-

?sageway. being substantially larger than isai'd tubular :ontlet, a :-second 011 line :connected iinto itheaoutlet-rof :the pump and :extending to ith'e :engine wall and opening Cthrough :a passageway deliver oil under pressure to the parts of the englue to be lubricated, a filter for filtering the oil in the lubricating system, the improvement which comprises an unobstructed oil line connected into the pump and extending to the inlet of the filter, an unobstructed oil line leading from the filter to the crank case and having an ejector associated therewith, said ejector being arranged to apply a suction to the filter through the oil line leading therefrom, an oil line connected into the outlet of the pump extending to the ejector and arranged to supply liquid under pressure from the pump to the ejector for applying suction to the filter, and an automatic pressure relief valve in the line leading from the pump to the ejector for maintaining a substantial predetermined maximum pressure in the lines leading from the pump outlet.

4. In a lubricating oil filtering system for an intherein adjacentto saidrlast mentioned passaga way, and a passageway in the filter unit adjacent the engine wall connecting the said lastmentioned passageways, whereby oil delivered by said second oil line is directed around the said projecting outlet to apply suction to the filter.

'7. A lubricating oil filter system as defined in claim 6 in which said second oil line includes an automatic pressure relief valve. 1

8. In a lubricating oil filtering system foran internal combustion engine including a container for retaining a body of oil, a pump to draw oil from said container and to deliver oil under pressure to the parts of the engine to be lubricated, an oil filter having a mounting flange with a face thereof secured in sealed relation to the outside of the engine wall, the improvement which comprises an unobstructed oil supply line connected into the pump outlet and extending to the engine Wall opposite the flange of the filter, a passageway through the engine wall and filter flange leading from said oil supply line into the filter, a second passageway through the engine wall facing said flange, an unobstructed oil discharge passageway leading from the filter through the flange to the engine wall and terminating in a tubular outlet projecting into said second passageway in the engine wall, said second passageway being substantially larger than said projecting tubular outlet, a second oil line connected into the outlet of the pump and extending to the engine wall and opening through a third passageway therein adjacent to said second passageway, and a passageway in the fiange of the filter adjacent the engine wall connecting the said second and third passageways, whereby oil delivered by said second oil line is directed around the said projecting tubular outlet to apply suction thereto and to the filter.

9. A lubricating oil filtering system as claimed in claim 8 in which said second oil line includes an automatic pressure relief valve.

10. In a lubricating oil filtering system for internal combustion engines which include a container for retaining a body of oil, a pump to draw oil from said container and deliver oil under pressure to the parts of the engine to be lubricated, a pair of oil supply lines connected into the pump outlet and extending to a side wall of the engine, a pair of passageways throu h said side wall adjacent to each other and into which said supply lines are connected, and a third passageway through said engine wall adjacent to said pair of passageways for the flow of oil into said container, the improvement which comprises an oil filter having a mounting flange mounted on the outside of the engine wall over all said passageways with a face of said flange secured in sealed relation to the outside of the engine wall, a conduit in the body of said flange connected into one of said pair of passageways and leading into the filter to supply oil under pressure thereinto, and a second conduit in the body of said fiange leading from the filter and connected into said third passageway for conducting filtered oil from the filter through said third passageway into said container, said flange having a passageway therein connected into the other of said pair of passageways and into said third passageway.

11. In a lubricating oil filtering system for an internal combustion engine of the type having a block including a crankcase provided with an outlet passageway for oil under pressure and an adjacent inlet passageway for oil to be delivered to the crank case of the engine, a filter unit ineluding a casing carried by an arm, a flange on the arm having a surface fitting the outer surface of the engine block and attached thereto at the position of said outlet and inlet passageways, passageways extending through said flange and arm into said filter casing connecting said outlet and inlet passageways respectively for the flow of oil under pressure from the engine into said filter casing and the flow of filtered oil from said filter easing into the crank case of the engine, the passageway for the flow of oil from the filter casing including a tubular member extending from the attachment face of the flange into the inlet passageway in the engine block, said tubular member having an outside diameter smaller than that of said inlet passageway in the block so that oil may flow around said tubular member, the attachment face of the flange being provided with a recess extending around said tubular member, and means for conducting oil from the engine into said recess, whereby oil is caused to flow through the recess into the inlet passageway in the block around said tubular member, thereby increasing the flow of oil from the filter unit through said tubular member.

12. A filter unit for attachment to the block of an internal combustion engine for filterin the engine oil comprising a casing, a mounting flange on which the casing is carried, said flange having an attachment face adapted to fit the surface of the engine block to which the filter unit is to be attached, a recess in said attachment face, a first passageway for conducting oil from the engine into said casing, said first passageway having an inlet opening through said attachment face outside said recess, and a second passageway for conducting filtered oil from said casing back to the engine, said second passageway terminating at its discharge end in a projection extending into said recess in spaced relation to its side walls.

CECIL PATRICK MOLYNEUX.

No references cited. 

